44 



NOTE- 



Since writing the following directions on the pruning of the 

 different classes of fruits which we did some four years ago, we 

 have seen reason to somewhat modify our recommendations. We 

 consider it may be of advantage to growers, to see just where such 

 modifications and alterations are. The result of our latest four 

 years' experience affect the former instructions, we therefore in 

 each instance place our modification in a separate paragraph in 

 each class direction, which we think need modifying and printed 

 in italics in the original instruction. 



THE APPLE. 



1896. Taking the tree at the second season from planting, one 

 finds that each of the laterals retained after last year's shorter ing 

 have thrown out two or more long shoots. If any of these are 

 -crowding others, cut them clean away, retaining only those which 

 are tending to evenly distribute the limbs on the foundation. 

 Those left should be shortened to a third of their length. Any 

 -of the laterals which have leen thrown out during last season's 

 growth must he shortened into two or three buds. 



The apple bears on the spurs thrown out, either directly from 

 the main limbs, or from the shortened-in laterals, and also some 

 varieties at the terminal buds, and the object in pruning is to 

 encourage the formation of fruit-buds on these spurs. The main 

 upright shoots of the apple should net be topped much after the 

 second year, as the foundation should now be firm and stocky. 

 Only such shoots as may crowd out others, or overlap, must be cut 

 away, and the laterals must always be either shortened-in to form 

 spurs, or cut clean out if they crowd one another. This, of 

 course, at the discretion of tne prnner. The fruit-buds are the 

 large prominent thickset rounded buds, distinct from the smaller, 

 less prominent buds, lying close to the branches. 



1900. Don't shorten-i n the laterals to two or three buds, leave them 

 say six inches in length, arid don't keep up this constant heading 

 back and shortening-in of laterals when the tree has got a good 

 sturdy growth, say in two to four years, dependent on the variety, 

 let it rip, cutting out those branches only that interfere with 

 others : it will throw itself into fruit quicker left practically alone, 

 and when once in fruit judicious cutting back and shortening-in 

 of laterals can be recommenced. 



